King County Department of Public Defense
Public Defense Attorney
King County Department of Public Defense, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
Join the King County Department of Public Defense as a Public Defense Attorney.
The Department of Public Defense (DPD) is seeking dedicated Public Defense Attorneys who are passionate about advocating for our clients. Our collaborative approach means that you’ll work alongside skilled investigators, mitigation specialists, paralegals, and other committed support staff, ensuring that we provide exceptional, client-centered representation.
Overview of the Role
DPD is the best-resourced public defense agency in the first state to adopt new caseload standards for public defenders based on the National Public Defense Workload Study | RAND. These standards, adopted by the Washington State Bar Association in March 2024, limit public defenders in felony practice to 110 weighted case credits in 2025, 90 weighted case credits in 2026, and 47 weighted case credits annually by 2027. As a DPD attorney, you’ll enjoy: Competitive Pay: $103,272.25/yr - $163,621.09/yr A comprehensive benefits package, including a pension. Support from a unionized workplace. A chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those navigating the criminal and civil legal systems. Extensive courtroom and trial experience, supported by a team that includes supervisors, investigators, paralegals, legal assistants, and mitigation specialists. Opportunities to work across multiple practice areas, including adult criminal, juvenile, dependency, and involuntary commitment courts. Resources to mount a robust defense, including funding for expert witnesses. Access to mentoring and high-quality training, both in-house and through national programs. Caseloads, among the most sustainable in the country, grounded in a phased case-weight model based on national research. Generous vacation and sick leave to support attorney well-being and career sustainability. Job Duties
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES include but are not limited to the following: Provide high-quality legal representation and advocacy for indigent clients, including individuals with limited English proficiency and those with disabilities. Handle all stages of representation—from arraignment through trial, and when necessary, sentencing and select post-conviction motions—under DPD’s vertical model of public defense. Conduct plea negotiations, mitigation, and other case resolution strategies. Engage in motions practice, including legal research, drafting, and arguing pretrial motions, often in collaboration with expert witnesses. Represent and advocate for a diverse client base, including individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or trauma. Develop and implement effective legal strategies that address both legal and client-centered needs, in collaboration with investigators, mitigation specialists, and paralegals. Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school, or a combination of experience, education, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the job duties. Admission to the Washington State Bar Association or licensure in another state that qualifies you for a license under Admission and Practice Rule (APR) 8(f) House Counsel. Minimum age of 21. Availability for on-call 24-hour coverage, currently requiring approximately one week per year or two Saturday calendars annually. Valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to travel throughout King County. Desired Qualifications: At least two years of criminal or civil practice that includes motion and trial practice. Proficiency in languages other than English, particularly Spanish. Clinical training in public defense. Lived experience related to the criminal legal system that resonates with DPD’s clients. How to Apply
To apply, please provide the following items: A complete King County application (available at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs) including your bar license information under the “Certificates and Licenses” section. A cover letter no more than two pages summarizing your experience and how you meet the required qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position. A resume. A legal writing sample, such as a brief, motion, or client letter in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format.
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DPD is the best-resourced public defense agency in the first state to adopt new caseload standards for public defenders based on the National Public Defense Workload Study | RAND. These standards, adopted by the Washington State Bar Association in March 2024, limit public defenders in felony practice to 110 weighted case credits in 2025, 90 weighted case credits in 2026, and 47 weighted case credits annually by 2027. As a DPD attorney, you’ll enjoy: Competitive Pay: $103,272.25/yr - $163,621.09/yr A comprehensive benefits package, including a pension. Support from a unionized workplace. A chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those navigating the criminal and civil legal systems. Extensive courtroom and trial experience, supported by a team that includes supervisors, investigators, paralegals, legal assistants, and mitigation specialists. Opportunities to work across multiple practice areas, including adult criminal, juvenile, dependency, and involuntary commitment courts. Resources to mount a robust defense, including funding for expert witnesses. Access to mentoring and high-quality training, both in-house and through national programs. Caseloads, among the most sustainable in the country, grounded in a phased case-weight model based on national research. Generous vacation and sick leave to support attorney well-being and career sustainability. Job Duties
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES include but are not limited to the following: Provide high-quality legal representation and advocacy for indigent clients, including individuals with limited English proficiency and those with disabilities. Handle all stages of representation—from arraignment through trial, and when necessary, sentencing and select post-conviction motions—under DPD’s vertical model of public defense. Conduct plea negotiations, mitigation, and other case resolution strategies. Engage in motions practice, including legal research, drafting, and arguing pretrial motions, often in collaboration with expert witnesses. Represent and advocate for a diverse client base, including individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or trauma. Develop and implement effective legal strategies that address both legal and client-centered needs, in collaboration with investigators, mitigation specialists, and paralegals. Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school, or a combination of experience, education, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the job duties. Admission to the Washington State Bar Association or licensure in another state that qualifies you for a license under Admission and Practice Rule (APR) 8(f) House Counsel. Minimum age of 21. Availability for on-call 24-hour coverage, currently requiring approximately one week per year or two Saturday calendars annually. Valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to travel throughout King County. Desired Qualifications: At least two years of criminal or civil practice that includes motion and trial practice. Proficiency in languages other than English, particularly Spanish. Clinical training in public defense. Lived experience related to the criminal legal system that resonates with DPD’s clients. How to Apply
To apply, please provide the following items: A complete King County application (available at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs) including your bar license information under the “Certificates and Licenses” section. A cover letter no more than two pages summarizing your experience and how you meet the required qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position. A resume. A legal writing sample, such as a brief, motion, or client letter in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format.
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